Smothers

SLOHusker

Sophomore
Aug 7, 2001
2,740
123
0
He's the slowest of everyone in the room
I'd honestly rather have a 5.0 40 QB that can throw the ball accurately than "fast" QBs that can't hit the broad side of a barn. Running QBs are only effective if the ability to beat you worse with the throw is there.
 

3 n out

Redshirt
Jul 12, 2016
118
9
13
I'd honestly rather have a 5.0 40 QB that can throw the ball accurately than "fast" QBs that can't hit the broad side of a barn. Running QBs are only effective if the ability to beat you worse with the throw is there.

Masker runs a 4.7 40, for what it’s worth.
 

TheBeav815

All-American
Feb 19, 2007
18,955
5,101
0
I listened to an NFL head coach talk one time about evaluating QBs. His main point was that you can't really fix mechanics and accuracy. Throwing accuracy can only be helped so much with footwork and mechanics. Start with a guy who is accurate and has a high football IQ or you're screwed. It appears that we're ignoring accuracy in high school completely. Mahomes has terrible mechanics but the guy is extremely accurate no matter what position he's throwing from. I wish I could remember who that coach was. He believed accuracy was just something your either had or didn't.
I'm gonna assume it was any decent coach ever at any level. Trying to teach a kid who isn't accurate to magically become accurate is like trying to teach a slow kid to be fast. You can improve him, but not very much.
 

HominidHusker

Senior
Jun 25, 2018
3,727
743
0
It’s been brought up, but I’m convinced that if Frost doesn’t bring in a transfer QB then he’s completely lost touch with reality.
We may have several issues going on, but QB ineffectiveness is numero uno.

I have no idea what Smothers’ potential looks like, but I’d actually play him now to get him a head start on competing against the transfer who comes in.
Adrian and Luke are good guys- no hard feelings here over their character. They are just not the right ones to help us win games at QB.
 

EastOregonHusker

Redshirt
Jul 2, 2020
333
0
0
unless smothers is significantly better which i wouldn't predict he should be thinking "I'm not going to play until im a senior" because Martinez still has 1-2 yrs left and McCaffery has 4 yrs. I dont see Smothers having a chance until after Martinez leaves then he still has to beat out a more experienced and physical McCaffery for a chance. Smothers is probably wasting his time the next 3 yrs at least
If he isn’t better than AMart or Luke he is wasting time trying to be a div1 qb.
 

jimmyjoseph

All-Conference
Jun 18, 2020
4,574
3,884
113
If he isn’t better than AMart or Luke he is wasting time trying to be a div1 qb.
Most D1 QBs are not very good until their 3rd year in a program. as u know there is a lot more to being a QB than just a strong and accurate arm. Martinez has a huge advantage because of his knowledge of the system and defensive schemes.
Spencer Rattler was #1 high school QB by a large margin; redshirted for a year; and then made all kinds of bad plays until 3/4 ways into this season. And he was considered a pro style QB
Smothers might end up being the best college QB of all time but if i'm not mistaken he was classified as dual threat not pro style and didn't have any of the accolades of Rattler.
So I would think a very generous prediction for Smothers would be ready to perform well in his 3rd season.
but im just going with the averages
 

phoenix4nu

All-Conference
May 10, 2009
9,774
2,088
0
The only reason Masker isn't playing is that he is slower than a snail running the ball
Great. We have an offense built for a dual threat quarterback and we have three (and maybe four) one dimensional quarterbacks.
 
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SLOHusker

Sophomore
Aug 7, 2001
2,740
123
0
Most D1 QBs are not very good until their 3rd year in a program. as u know there is a lot more to being a QB than just a strong and accurate arm. Martinez has a huge advantage because of his knowledge of the system and defensive schemes.
Spencer Rattler was #1 high school QB by a large margin; redshirted for a year; and then made all kinds of bad plays until 3/4 ways into this season. And he was considered a pro style QB
Smothers might end up being the best college QB of all time but if i'm not mistaken he was classified as dual threat not pro style and didn't have any of the accolades of Rattler.
So I would think a very generous prediction for Smothers would be ready to perform well in his 3rd season.
but im just going with the averages
There is a massive difference between Spencer Rattler throwing the ball and AM and McCaffrey throwing the ball. We are not talking about poor decision making but pure ability.
 

Frozone

Junior
Sep 22, 2013
736
258
0
I listened to an NFL head coach talk one time about evaluating QBs. His main point was that you can't really fix mechanics and accuracy. Throwing accuracy can only be helped so much with footwork and mechanics. Start with a guy who is accurate and has a high football IQ or you're screwed. It appears that we're ignoring accuracy in high school completely. Mahomes has terrible mechanics but the guy is extremely accurate no matter what position he's throwing from. I wish I could remember who that coach was. He believed accuracy was just something your either had or didn't.

Don’t know if it was the same coach, but Kevin Gilbride used to preach that accuracy was the one thing you can’t teach and that a QB has to be able to deliver the ball accurately to have any a chance of success at the NFL level. Of course, he also helped draft Ryan Leaf, so there’s that.
 
Jan 14, 2017
3,160
493
47
Smothers was clocked in the 4.4-4.5 range in HS. Now, running in pads is different, but I’d hardly call him slow
 

TruHusker

All-Conference
Sep 21, 2001
12,111
2,387
98
Speed, throwing accuracy, meh, I just want to know how well they perform on the QB test.
 

Suhrreal

All-Conference
Jun 1, 2009
7,380
1,049
0
I listened to an NFL head coach talk one time about evaluating QBs. His main point was that you can't really fix mechanics and accuracy. Throwing accuracy can only be helped so much with footwork and mechanics. Start with a guy who is accurate and has a high football IQ or you're screwed. It appears that we're ignoring accuracy in high school completely. Mahomes has terrible mechanics but the guy is extremely accurate no matter what position he's throwing from. I wish I could remember who that coach was. He believed accuracy was just something your either had or didn't.

It's something that has been shown time and again: once you hit big-time college football, a lot of the fundamentals -- whether sound or not -- are already pretty much hard-wired. It makes sense because a lot of these guys have been playing football for 10+ years by the time they get on campus. So all their bad habits are second nature by that point. It's why Tebow was never going to "fix" his mechanics despite all the $ and hype in the world. It's also why Cam can't help himself when he lowers his head going into a tackle.
 

Shoxsker

Sophomore
Feb 10, 2014
1,670
170
58
Wandale had a big slow LB chasing him in desperation. If he even underthrows it Wandale would still come down with the ball 90% of the time. Instead he overthrows him by 5 yards. I think NU finishes this season with 4 passing touchdowns and 7 interceptions. In a fricking passing offense. Yes the OL and receivers can improve and honestly both have over the course of the season, but the QBs are just not able to make the throws to run this offense.
Yes, I really hoped for Adrian to get better. Not going to happen. This is 100% on the coaching he has regressed A LOT. I actually think there may be more to team taking coaches mentality than we thought. This isnt just a case of guys that can't play. This is a coach who at this point has given no evidence that he isn't over his head. Even winning against Rutgers isn't going to change that. And truthfully, Rutgers may beat us. They'll know our offense well, we will undoubtedly be outcoached.
 

Husker_AMG63

Redshirt
Nov 14, 2019
816
0
0
Most D1 QBs are not very good until their 3rd year in a program. as u know there is a lot more to being a QB than just a strong and accurate arm. Martinez has a huge advantage because of his knowledge of the system and defensive schemes.
Spencer Rattler was #1 high school QB by a large margin; redshirted for a year; and then made all kinds of bad plays until 3/4 ways into this season. And he was considered a pro style QB
Smothers might end up being the best college QB of all time but if i'm not mistaken he was classified as dual threat not pro style and didn't have any of the accolades of Rattler.
So I would think a very generous prediction for Smothers would be ready to perform well in his 3rd season.
but im just going with the averages

Are you kidding me??! FRESHMAN Spencer Rattler threw more touchdowns (4) in his first game as a starter this year than Adrian has thrown ALL YEAR!!

I wish yall would stop name dropping players and other teams and compare them to Nebraska to make ya weak points. It's not like some of us don't watch college football and you can just talk out ya *** without getting checked...
 

MOHUSKER

All-Conference
Nov 1, 2009
16,561
1,806
113
I listened to an NFL head coach talk one time about evaluating QBs. His main point was that you can't really fix mechanics and accuracy. Throwing accuracy can only be helped so much with footwork and mechanics. Start with a guy who is accurate and has a high football IQ or you're screwed. It appears that we're ignoring accuracy in high school completely. Mahomes has terrible mechanics but the guy is extremely accurate no matter what position he's throwing from. I wish I could remember who that coach was. He believed accuracy was just something your either had or didn't.

Mike Leach had this to say which is right in line.


“People make this mistake all over the country, and everybody can think of one, but there will be a guy who is big, strong and athletic, and everyone gets tempted by speed and if someone has a super strong arm.”

“Then they say ‘Well all he has to do is work on his accuracy. Well ok. He won’t be accurate in high school. Then some college will take him, and then he won’t be accurate there, and then the NFL says ‘all he has to do is work on his accuracy,’ and they’ll take him there, and he won’t be accurate there and then he’ll be out of the league.”

“The thing that’s amazing to me, is that after all of high school he’s not accurate, and now all of a sudden you’re special and you’re going to make him accurate? And then after college he’s not accurate, and you’re special and you’re going to make him accurate? I just haven’t seen that happen. I’ve seen guys improve, but they don’t all of a sudden become accurate.”

“The other thing is, you can go grab a shortstop and teach him to play quarterback easier than you can make someone accurate.”
 

dinglefritz

Heisman
Jan 14, 2011
51,387
12,801
78
Mike Leach had this to say which is right in line.


“People make this mistake all over the country, and everybody can think of one, but there will be a guy who is big, strong and athletic, and everyone gets tempted by speed and if someone has a super strong arm.”

“Then they say ‘Well all he has to do is work on his accuracy. Well ok. He won’t be accurate in high school. Then some college will take him, and then he won’t be accurate there, and then the NFL says ‘all he has to do is work on his accuracy,’ and they’ll take him there, and he won’t be accurate there and then he’ll be out of the league.”

“The thing that’s amazing to me, is that after all of high school he’s not accurate, and now all of a sudden you’re special and you’re going to make him accurate? And then after college he’s not accurate, and you’re special and you’re going to make him accurate? I just haven’t seen that happen. I’ve seen guys improve, but they don’t all of a sudden become accurate.”

“The other thing is, you can go grab a shortstop and teach him to play quarterback easier than you can make someone accurate.”
Boom. There it is. The guy I heard say a very similar thing was an NFL coach but it's the exact same message. I think Leach knows QBs.
 
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dinglefritz

Heisman
Jan 14, 2011
51,387
12,801
78
Yes, I really hoped for Adrian to get better. Not going to happen. This is 100% on the coaching he has regressed A LOT. I actually think there may be more to team taking coaches mentality than we thought. This isnt just a case of guys that can't play. This is a coach who at this point has given no evidence that he isn't over his head. Even winning against Rutgers isn't going to change that. And truthfully, Rutgers may beat us. They'll know our offense well, we will undoubtedly be outcoached.
His accuracy has not regressed. He played behind a more experienced O line his freshman year with a future NFL WR to throw who could get open. Teams have him figured out.
 

steinek11

All-Conference
Apr 18, 2004
13,481
1,216
113
His accuracy has not regressed. He played behind a more experienced O line his freshman year with a future NFL WR to throw who could get open. Teams have him figured out.
Teams have figured him out. They know who his primary receiver is, and when that's not there it all breaks down. He doesn't check down to a back, but instead sort of stumbles out of the pocket trying to turn it up field a little bit.
 

Headcard

Heisman
Feb 2, 2005
192,507
20,870
113
Teams have figured him out. They know who his primary receiver is, and when that's not there it all breaks down. He doesn't check down to a back, but instead sort of stumbles out of the pocket trying to turn it up field a little bit.
It seems like he checks down all the time. Like to the Sam Keller level. Never pushes it down the field. Just check down after check down. Of course when we had guys wide open down the field, we still missed them.
 

Shoxsker

Sophomore
Feb 10, 2014
1,670
170
58
His accuracy has not regressed. He played behind a more experienced O line his freshman year with a future NFL WR to throw who could get open. Teams have him figured out.
You can't have watched yesterday and not see he has regressed. He misses open guys regularly.
 

Crazyhole

All-American
Jun 4, 2004
27,841
9,769
0
You can't have watched yesterday and not see he has regressed. He misses open guys regularly.
The single biggest theme over the last 4 weeks is how often our receivers are wide open downfield. We hear it probably 20 times a game.
 

Shoxsker

Sophomore
Feb 10, 2014
1,670
170
58
The single biggest theme over the last 4 weeks is how often our receivers are wide open downfield. We hear it probably 20 times a game.
I ignored it, and stayed in the 2AM club.... then I couldn't miss Wandale for 6 overthrown, Oliver Martin for maybe 6 and at least fg range, overthrow. Wandale open but has to drop to knee, Lewier open crossing, overthrown would have been a 1st down.
I couldn't look past what I saw with my own eyes. Now I remember a bad overthrow to wide open Betts last week. Purdue hit Betts late and defenseless for 15 yards but it was a terrible overthrow. He's not just missing open guys, he's not getting it near the target when he sees them.
 

Crazyhole

All-American
Jun 4, 2004
27,841
9,769
0
I ignored it, and stayed in the 2AM club.... then I couldn't miss Wandale for 6 overthrown, Oliver Martin for maybe 6 and at least fg range, overthrow. Wandale open but has to drop to knee, Lewier open crossing, overthrown would have been a 1st down.
I couldn't look past what I saw with my own eyes. Now I remember a bad overthrow to wide open Betts last week. Purdue hit Betts late and defenseless for 15 yards but it was a terrible overthrow. He's not just missing open guys, he's not getting it near the target when he sees them.
Put Zac Taylor in this offense and things would look a lot better, even if he was slow. Put Ganz in there and we'd be pretty dang good.
 

3 n out

Redshirt
Jul 12, 2016
118
9
13
The next slowest runs a 4.55

Once again, what have our “fast guys” produced? Not sure what the point is. Luke is really fast. He can’t sling it. Adrian is fast but he’s missing wide open guys. Speed doesn’t work if you can’t pass effectively.
 

stonesak

Senior
Mar 17, 2012
1,314
683
0
The only reason Masker isn't playing is that he is slower than a snail running the ball

So Frost would pass on the next Aaron Rodgers because he can't run a 4.5 40? Truly a offensive genius. Remember when we bashed Callahan and Riley for not adapting their offense for the talent on the roster? Guess Scotty gets a pass.
 

Trojanhorse13

Freshman
Oct 19, 2017
237
59
0
Most D1 QBs are not very good until their 3rd year in a program. as u know there is a lot more to being a QB than just a strong and accurate arm. Martinez has a huge advantage because of his knowledge of the system and defensive schemes.
Spencer Rattler was #1 high school QB by a large margin; redshirted for a year; and then made all kinds of bad plays until 3/4 ways into this season. And he was considered a pro style QB
Smothers might end up being the best college QB of all time but if i'm not mistaken he was classified as dual threat not pro style and didn't have any of the accolades of Rattler.
So I would think a very generous prediction for Smothers would be ready to perform well in his 3rd season.
but im just going with the averages
Here are Rattler's stats per game. 7 interceptions on the year. Doesn't appear to me that he was making all kinds of bad plays until 3/4 into the season. BTW he was benched for part of the first half against Texas. Third game of the season.

Game Log
202020192020

2020 REGULAR SEASONPASSINGRUSHING
DATEOPPRESULTCMPATTYDSCMP%TDINTLNGSACKRTGQBRATTYDSAVGTDLNG
Sat 12/5vsBAYW
27-14
202819371.421254145.844.210-12-1.207
Sat 11/21vs14OKSTW
41-13
172430170.840453231.296.97142.0117
Sat 11/7vsKUW
62-9
152721255.611331126.347.9331.016
Sat 10/31@TTUW
62-28
213028870.020480172.692.03248.0014
Sat 10/24@TCUW
33-14
132233259.120611215.994.7970.8016
Sat 10/10vs22TEXW
53-45 4OT
233520965.731302138.478.214513.6123
Sat 10/3@ISUL
37-30
253630069.421512152.285.09202.2113
Sat 9/26vsKSUL
38-35
304138773.243513170.067.28-5-0.607
Sat 9/12vsMOSTW
48-0
141729082.440583303.397.8410.3010
TOTAL1782602,51268.52476119174.782.0671031.5423
 

jimmyjoseph

All-Conference
Jun 18, 2020
4,574
3,884
113
Here are Rattler's stats per game. 7 interceptions on the year. Doesn't appear to me that he was making all kinds of bad plays until 3/4 into the season. BTW he was benched for part of the first half against Texas. Third game of the season.

Game Log
202020192020

DATEOPPRESULTCMPATTYDSCMP%TDINTLNGSACKRTGQBRATTYDSAVGTDLNG
2020 REGULAR SEASONPASSINGRUSHING
Sat 12/5vsBAYW
27-14
202819371.421254145.844.210-12-1.207
Sat 11/21vs14OKSTW
41-13
172430170.840453231.296.97142.0117
Sat 11/7vsKUW
62-9
152721255.611331126.347.9331.016
Sat 10/31@TTUW
62-28
213028870.020480172.692.03248.0014
Sat 10/24@TCUW
33-14
132233259.120611215.994.7970.8016
Sat 10/10vs22TEXW
53-45 4OT
233520965.731302138.478.214513.6123
Sat 10/3@ISUL
37-30
253630069.421512152.285.09202.2113
Sat 9/26vsKSUL
38-35
304138773.243513170.067.28-5-0.607
Sat 9/12vsMOSTW
48-0
141729082.440583303.397.8410.3010
TOTAL1782602,51268.52476119174.782.0671031.5423
he threw 5 of the 7 INTs in the first 3 league games and lost 2 of the 3. Threw 2 INTS the rest of the year and went undefeated. I think almost anyone would agree he improved significantly from the start to the finish. and thats what his coach has said as well
 

Husker.Wed._rivals

All-Conference
Feb 13, 2004
17,648
3,699
98
It's interesting that in 1997 Frost was 88/159 (55%) with 5 TDs (including the most important one) and 4 INTs. He threw the ball like he was putting a shot. He was neither very accurate, nor had good mechanics. The good news was his coach understood his limitations and called games he could be effective in.
 

oldjar07

All-Conference
Oct 25, 2009
9,462
2,001
113
Umm no its not. Its probably just the facts. Frost likes running QBs. Its a fact. By virtue of being called a running QB that logically means they are not considered a passing QB. The elite QBs now are very good runners but very good passers. In todays game it appears the passing has become more important than the running. Frost might have to change his QB strategy
Which doesn't make much sense, because what worked at UCF and Oregon was having a great passing attack mixed in with an effective zone running game.
 

oldjar07

All-Conference
Oct 25, 2009
9,462
2,001
113
Wandale had a big slow LB chasing him in desperation. If he even underthrows it Wandale would still come down with the ball 90% of the time. Instead he overthrows him by 5 yards. I think NU finishes this season with 4 passing touchdowns and 7 interceptions. In a fricking passing offense. Yes the OL and receivers can improve and honestly both have over the course of the season, but the QBs are just not able to make the throws to run this offense.
The throw was fine. If you're a midget wide receiver and the ball hits your hands, you better catch it. If he underthrows that ball, it's intercepted.